Saturday, 21 February 1880

I go to hear M. Rouher’s speech, and I must admit that despite the aridity of the subject, it was interesting. And then Rouher is an orator: no bleating, no bombast, but fine gestures, natural eloquence, a clarity and a logic that make one listen to him without weariness and even with pleasure. Gambetta, for one, listened religiously; he is no fool, the president: he was learning something.
I am starting an album, on whose pages I shall paste all the articles, news items, etc. that I find interesting in the papers. Courtès, Ferret, de Rouzat.
Maufras, the Mirandas, Randouin, Gavini, Poitrineau, Piccioni, the Multedos (the old couple), Soutzo, etc., etc. This Soutzo has bought a newspaper that is going to make him a fortune, and he has had his hair cut like Arnaud de l’Ariège because I told him to.